Social media personality turned boxer Jake Paul secured a unanimous decision victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on Saturday night, extending his professional record to 12 wins.
However, the victory was met with boos from the Honda Center crowd as Chavez Jr., 39, offered minimal resistance throughout the cruiserweight bout.
Paul, 28, dominated the fight with scores of 99-91, 97-93, and 98-92. Chavez Jr., a former middleweight world champion, barely threw punches, appearing disengaged and frustrating his legendary father, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr., at ringside.
“All the boos are words, but actions speak louder than words,” a defiant Paul stated, adding, “It was flawless. I think I only got hit 10 times.”
This win, following his bout with Mike Tyson in November, reignites debate about the quality of Paul’s opponents. Chavez Jr. is a diminished fighter, having struggled with discipline and motivation throughout his career.
Despite the criticism, Paul, whose only professional loss was to Tommy Fury in 2023, is now eyeing world titles, calling out WBA champion Gilberto Ramirez and WBC belt-holder Badou Jack.
While boxing purists question his expedited path, both the WBA and WBC have hinted at potentially including him in their rankings.
Paul has even outrageously named former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and lightweight world champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis as potential future opponents.
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has stated Paul could be considered for a ranking if he defeated Chavez Jr., which could open the door to a world title shot.
While Paul has brought a new audience to boxing and supports women fighters, many believe he must move beyond faded names and former MMA stars to earn genuine credibility.
Stepping in with an active, legitimately ranked fighter is seen as the true test for the self-proclaimed ‘Problem Child.’
